Baker suffered “mini stroke”

Reds manager Dusty Baker revealed on Tuesday that he suffered a “mini-stroke” on Friday as he was being discharged from a Chicago hospital.

Baker was initially admitted last Wednesday and diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, also known as an irregular heartbeat.

Chris Speier is managing the team at least through this weekend’s series at Pittsburgh. Baker is at the ballpark today but is not meeting with reporters. The club held a team meetings this afternoon.

“He did come down and address the team and looked great,” Speier said. “He lost a lot of water weight. He’s anxious, but again it’s one of those situations where I know today that I’m going to manage tonight and I’ll probably manage, at this point, probably through Pittsburgh. Then the plan I believe is, he’s going to rejoin the team in St. Louis.”

Here is the full statement from Baker and the Reds:

While in Chicago on Wednesday, Reds manager Dusty Baker was admitted to Northwestern Memorial Hospital and diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, commonly referred to as an irregular heartbeat. As he was being discharged on Friday, he suffered a mini-stroke and immediately was treated by the hospital’s stroke team, which minimized the effects of the stroke.

Dusty returned to Cincinnati on Sunday, and his condition has improved dramatically. His Cincinnati neurologist, Dr. Joseph Broderick, and cardiologists, Dr. Dean Kereiakes and Dr. Daniel Beyerbach, expect Dusty to make a full recovery and return to the dugout, possibly as soon as the season’s final series next week in St. Louis.

Dusty said, “While at Wrigley Field I was blessed to have our trainer, Paul Lessard, have the good sense to call in Cubs team physician Dr. Stephen Adams, who examined me in the clubhouse, immediately determined how serious by condition was and personally rushed me to Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Dr. Broderick and Dr. Kereiakes are going to make sure I’m ready to handle the duties of managing before I return full time. My family and I are very grateful for the support we’ve received the past few days from Mr. Castellini and our ownership group, Walt, our friends, the baseball family and especially Reds fans. I’m feeling much better, and it’s great being back here in Cincinnati. Chris Speier and my staff are doing a terrific job, and I look forward to getting back to the dugout.”

Dusty is the reason why we are in first place. I can’t take that away from the person who should win manager of the year no matter what happens moving forward. I wasn’t a Dusty fan until this year. But he has made all of the right moves, though at times I questioned him, I can’t argue with the results. Who else would pick Stubbs over Heisey? Rolen over Frazier? He created the bullpen rotation that by far the best bullpen in baseball. Now we are setup for the Reds starters to only need to pitch through 5 or 6 innings and let our bullpen bring it on home.
Dusty you are the man and I suspect that this just might be your last season managing and if it is I hope you get to go out on top.

I am saddening to here this news about one of baseball’s greatest players and coach of all time Dusty Baker being sick. I know with God’s help he will be back in no time with his tooth pick in his mouth and that old school swag that he has…. I can remember when I was about 12 years old growing up in Orange County, CA I went South Coast Plaza…. I just happen to walk in to the footlocker and guess who I ran into?? Wow! Yes it was Dusty! I started tell him story about his childhood growing up in California that a close friend of his had told me… He looked at me and said who are? How do you know these things? I smile, I wink my eye and walk out and that was when he played for the Dodgers and Dan Ford played for the halo. I am 46 years old now and I rememer that so clear.
That was one of the greatest times of me meeting one of the humbles and real baseball players. Now days you can’t say anything to baseball players without them having a chip on their shoulders. Somewhere along the way, some of the players are lost and have forgotten what baseball was all about… So with that being said… Get well soon so I can see that old school Swag in the dugout!!!!! You are still one of my heroes!!
Hougie!!!

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